Obstacle courses for tanks

[43rdRecceReg]

Looking at these, I decided that in the New year if might be worthwhile designing basic obstacle courses for 1/16 tanks. Courses modelled on actual WW2 courses. Filming the tanks tackling the same obstacles could reveal how well certain tracks, suspension systems, and gearboxes perform..and how well the models themselves fair when compared with the originals...and even different brands (Tamiya, Taigen etc.) with one another

M3 on an obstacle course..on the way to a repair shop

M18 Hellcat tackling an obstacle course

Is it a bird or a plane? No it's a cromwell...

Obstacle course- Cromwell at Bovington.jpg (38.02 KiB) Viewed 3656 times

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One of the obstacles could be something like this one. Maybe the dimensions of actual obstacles at WW2 Bovington or the Aberdeen proving grounds (?) could be found and scaled down for use with the tanks. For members with suitable gardens, landscape access, and the will...of course, maybe a 'standard' course could be specified and used, with three or four types of obstacle, and the results thenposted for comparative purposes.
Just an idea for now...and It may well vanish in the obstacle course of arm- bending that is Hogmanay (New Year's Eve/Day dipsomania and wayward wassailing.. ). So..I thought I'd record it here.
I don't a have a Youtube account as yet, but quite like the idea of filming the tanks going through their paces, with highlights perhaps in slo-mo. If the models are true to their grown up counterparts, they should
perform in a similar way in field trials..
By the same token, it might be a useful means of comparing the properties of differing gearboxes and motors.

[43rdRecceReg]

Here's another interesting approach- from Hungary- whereby 'field trials' on obstacle courses also include onboard footage from a GoPro...

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[43rdRecceReg]

A Sherman a the late lamented Aberdeen proving Grounds..

Sherman at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds

Sherman on Aberdeen proving gound.jpg (9.32 KiB) Viewed 3600 times

Sherman rolls over at Aberdeen Proving Grounds..

Food for thought..

[Aussie]

Could also build an adjustable ramp to see what the limit of climb angle is for each different tank?

[c.rainford73]

This is an absolutely brilliant idea. For someone like myself who doesn't battle much it would be an excellent way to show off my hard work

[43rdRecceReg]

Could also build an adjustable ramp to see what the limit of climb angle is for each different tank?

Good idea, Aussie- and not a major engineering challenge either A rudimentary inclinometer could also be made for the slope to provide a clear visual indication of the challenge...
Here's one from Wiki:

Rudimentary inclinometer for Tank slope test

Simple inclinometer.jpg (85.28 KiB) Viewed 3560 times

Let's hope our menageries of Metal could compete with this M60 (?). This was at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in 1954....

Aberdeen Proving Grounds- incline test 1954

Aberdeen proving grounds 1954- slope climbing test.jpg (81.35 KiB) Viewed 3560 times

[43rdRecceReg]

This is an absolutely brilliant idea. For someone like myself who doesn't battle much it would be an excellent way to show off my hard work

Thanks, Carl. It's far from being an original idea, but sometimes a reminder of an option available for fun and research- is a good idea. Like you, battling is not really an option for me, but I could certainly landscape part of my garden for 'field trials' and filming; like many members here, I expect. Jussek has a dedicated Tank-orama/ Tankscape in progress that would is the envy of many of us, I'm sure. His, however is an RC battleground rather than a 'proving ground'...though the distinction is a small one. Lots of members have their own wee battle arenas, with townscapes, trains even.. (Tiggr).
but i want a sort of Tank=lab.

[HERMAN BIX]

After seeing the weather news down here just now Mr 43'rd, you best get used to a white-washed paint job with a very white picture background
That stuff we down here only see on Discovery Channel is about to or IS hitting you guys hard up there.
I know its south of you, but Huddersfield looks like Siberia

My only consideration for a scale proving ground is a lack of scale weight.........
Each tank version will behave quite differently if under spec'd on power to weight.

It will affect traction,gradient transition, pretty much everything in relation to the full scale counterpart.
BUT, certainly will make a very good source of entertaining video if anyone does go ahead with one

[43rdRecceReg]

Some interesting questions, there, Herman. As for the crystalline chaos, I'm South of the snowline at present, visiting friends. As an aside, I prefer to deal with extreme cold (add more layers of clothing, and turn the heat up) than extreme heat..where there's a limit to the layers you can take off...etc..
Scaling the three dimensions of a Tank down to 1/16 or 1/6th from full-size is fairly straightforward. Scaling weight is quite another matter, and yes, weight has a massive impact on traction, torque, stalling and surmounting inclines and hills. Here's a discussion of scaling weight I discovered..with no easy answers so far for relative proportionality....just from a cursory 'net trawl:
http://forums.dhsdiecast.com/default.as ... s&t=125831
http://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index ... ic=73631.0
and scale in particular:
http://www.tankmodel.com/index2.php
Hmmm..more research needed on model material densities..
Calculation pulling power with a spring balance might produce interesting results too, so long as testing doesn't lead to scary (and expensive) motor smoke, or burned out MFUs..

[RobW]

Calculation pulling power with a spring balance might produce interesting results too, so long as testing doesn't lead to scary (and expensive) motor smoke, or burned out MFUs..

I suspect you'll break traction long before the smoke escapes!